The RN's second-in-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wale s (foreground), pictured sailing with sister ship Queen Elizabeth for the first time in the North Atlantic in May 2021. (Crown copyright/UK Ministry of Defence)
The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) second-in-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is participating in NATO Maritime Command's (MARCOM's) ‘Dynamic Mariner' exercise as a final sea trials phase for certifying its availability for operations.
On completion of operational certification, Prince of Wales will also become the command platform for the NATO Response Force/Maritime (NRF/M) component, which will come under RN operational command for 2022.
‘Dynamic Mariner' is running between 18–30 September, in North Atlantic waters off the United Kingdom; it is taking place in tandem with the second of the UK's bi-annual ‘Joint Warrior' training activities (JW21.2).
“ Prince of Wales will complete her operational generation under the NATO formation this month, in preparation for her own future global tasking,” Rear Admiral Michael Utley, Commander UK Strike Force (CSF), told a MARCOM media briefing on 23 September.
As well as supporting Prince of Wales' readiness certification, ‘Dynamic Mariner' is the maritime force integration live exercise (LIVEX) that forms part of the certification process for the NRF/M for 2022. Rear Adm Utley – as UK CSF – will be the NRF/M maritime component commander. ‘Dynamic Mariner'/JW21.2 “is the [next] milestone in the UK Strike Force's preparation for NRF duties for 2022, and serves as the maritime validation of [the CSF] staff and headquarters”, the admiral said.
Beyond ‘Dynamic Mariner'/JW21.2, “[ Prince of Wales
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